Chapter 5 – THE CARTEL STRIKES BACK
Chapter Five
THE CARTEL STRIKES BACK
Indigo woke up in a cold sweat, with heart racing.
She had been dreaming about the cartel again, their faces twisted in anger and determination.
Her tattoo shop was burning down in the background, the flames dancing wildly as she tried in vain to save her life's work.
The taste of ashes filled her mouth, reminding her of the loss that still hung heavy around her neck like a noose.
As she sat up, she realized she was alone in the bed, something that was becoming too common these days.
Steel was gone, out on some dark errand she didn’t want to think about.
She wanted to believe he was just looking after her, but she knew better.
The MC was a dangerous world, and Steel would do anything to keep her safe, even if it meant keeping her locked up like a prisoner.
Gingerly, she got out of bed and padded over to the window.
The city skyline was still dark, but she knew it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
The sun would rise, and another day would begin.
A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the bounty on her head, the constant threat of danger lurking around every corner.
She reached down and touched the spot where the MC’s symbol lay under her skin. It was a constant reminder of her new life, of the protection she had in the club. But sometimes, she wondered if it was enough. Could she really trust these men with her life?
As she made her way to the bathroom to wash her face, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her eyes were ringed with gray shadows, her skin pale and drawn. She didn't look like the confident woman she once was. She looked scared, hollowed out by fear and uncertainty.
She couldn’t go back to her old life, not after everything she’d been through. But she didn’t want to be someone’s possession either. Steel needed to know that she was more than just a bargaining chip in some twisted game of power.
Determined, she walked out of the bathroom and started to get dressed.
Maybe it was time to take matters into her own hands.
If she couldn’t make Steel see her for who she really was, maybe she had to show him.
She slid her phone out of her pocket and dialed a number she had been avoiding for weeks.
The line picked up almost instantly, and she steeled herself for the inevitable confrontation.
“Hello? This is Indigo,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
“Indigo,” the voice on the other line rasped. It was him, the man she had been hoping to avoid. The man who had destroyed her life.
“What do you want?” she asked, trying to keep her tone steady.
“You know what I want,” he replied, his voice low and menacing. “I want you back.”
“Never,” she spat, but even as she said the words, she felt a chill run down her spine. He was dangerous, and she knew it. But so was her current situation. She had to play along, at least for now. “Why now?” she asked, trying to buy some time.
“I’ve underestimated you,” he admitted, his voice surprisingly honest. “But that won’t happen again. You belong with me, Indigo. You know you do.”
Indigo swallowed hard as she heard footsteps approaching from behind her. She softened her tone, knowing she had to try and appease him. “I've changed,” she said quietly. “I can’t go back to the life I had before.”
“You don’t have a choice,” he replied, his voice hardening once more. “Come to me, and no one else will get hurt.”
“I can’t,” she whispered, feeling the cold steel of the butterfly knife in her pocket. It was her only weapon now, a small comfort in this chaotic world. “I’m not alone.”
There was a long pause on the line, and she could almost picture the wheels turning in his mind. “Then I’ll come and get you,” he said finally. “Don’t disappoint me, love.”
With a deep breath, Indigo hung up the phone and turned around slowly. Standing in the doorway was Steel, his expression unreadable. “What did he want?” he asked quietly, taking in her shaking form.
“To say hello,” she lied, not letting him see how scared she was.
She couldn’t afford to let him know how vulnerable he made her feel, how the cartel still had a hold on her.
Steel had protected her so far, but she knew he couldn't be everywhere at once.
She had to find a way out of this mess herself, before it was too late, and she ended up like the countless others who had crossed paths with the cartel.